Believe it or not...

So, Dennis talked me into taking the kids bowling. This is a big deal, because I really really hate bowling. I hate bowling because I stink at it, and that will never change. I don't enjoy doing things I'm exceptionally bad at.

Things started a little slow, but I think the kids had fun once they got into it. Well, except Emmie. She cried every time she didn't get a strike or a spare. I know how you feel, kid. Sorry for the sub-par genetics. My fault.

YE HAW!...

Dennis and I haven't even been home from Vegas for a full day, and someone (okay, me) thought it would be great fun to take the kids to Chuck E Cheese, and then the rodeo.



The rodeo was insane - but fun if you enjoy total chaos, mixed with a little bit of fear that your three-year-old is going to fall to her death off the top of the bleachers.

The kids said so many ridiculously funny things, I actually started writing them down on a napkin so I wouldn't forget.

During the calf roping:

Kaiya said, "Oh good, he missed."



As a calf was roped and left lying there, Hayden said, "Oh sad! Another cow died."

Emmie said, "When you left to take the little kids potty, everyone was being quiet and Daddy yelled "YEA!" really loud. It was so embarrassing."



Hayden, looking at the rodeo grounds:

"Is that mud or pudding?" I started laughing and said, "Honey, that's dirt." Hayden replied, "Oh, shoot, so it's yuck?" I think she was dreaming of eating the entire rodeo ring.



Emmie had already had a snow cone and some nachos, but then saw some other kids with soda pop. She promply started begging for one, and I told her that I really didn't want to take my life into my hands by walking down the over-stuffed bleachers to stand in line (again) to get her a drink. She said, very pathetically, "But, Mo-om! I'm DEHYYYYYYYYYYYDRATED!"

At one point, Emmie choked on a nacho. She was crying and holding her throat and being very dramatic, but still making plenty of noise, so I was never that worried. I handed her the root beer (yes, I eventually gave in and got her one) and told her to drink a bunch. After she'd recovered she asked, "But Mom, what would you have done if I was choking and you didn't have a drink around?" I said, "Hmm, I guess I would have had to spit in your mouth so you could swallow that." She said, "I can't decide if you really love me or if you're really gross."

Hayden turned to the old man behind us, and proceeded to ask him his name, his wifes name, and if he had any dogs. After chatting with him for a while, she said, "Hey, I really like you hat!" He let her try the hat on. So then she got a mischevious look in her eye and said, "I really like you licorice!" Of course he handed her one. She is such a stinker.



I looked over during a lull in the action, and Kaiya was standing, flipping her hair and practicing her "beauty queen wave". She noticed that I was looking at her and got all embarrassed. I wish I'd caught it on camera.

Claire asked me if cows and horses fart.



Happy Lehi Days, everyone!

Oh, kids...

Dennis and I took a trip to Vegas for a few days. It was a great little break! We sure had a good laugh the night before we left, though. Kaiya was angry at us for leaving, and this note was taped to her door...



What made this even more funny to me, is my mom has kept a nearly identical letter that I left her when I was a couple of years younger than Kaiya is now. Only in my letter, I drew a picture of me (with long, flowing hair, which I have never had a day in my life) and in it I am crying teardrops nearly as big as my head. On my picture, I wrote "I am vry vry sad". Kaiya comes by her over-dramatic personality honestly.

The day we got home, the kids were so excited to see us, they were COMPLTELY out of control. When I told Kaiya all her screaming was giving me a headache, she came up with a very creative solution. When they do it to themselves it's not child abuse, right?







All the other crazy munchkins...







At least my sweet Piper greeted us, then promptly curled back up on the couch with her blankie and fell asleep. I'm becomming very attached to this little doggie. Isn't she cute?

Splash Park...

We finally had a day warm enough to attend the splash park! After watching Zoey this past year, and Hayden being a baby before that, I realized this is the first time I've been there without a baby. It was HEAVEN. I layed out while chatting with friends and reading, and the kids played well for the most part. Kaiya was grumpy because I made her tie a bag around her broken arm, but she may as well get used to me making her life miserable right about now.

I cannot stress how much I've missed the sun! I feel like a new woman. I still think Dennis needs to move me somewhere that just doesn't get cold.

Kaiya was mad about nearly every picture I took because she couldn't get over the fact that she had a BAG on her arm...















Emmie was posing the whole time and had the time of her life...









Claire even got a little more into it than in past years...











And Hayden was just Hayden. She played some, but spent the majority of her time begging me for candy...

School Days are Done...

And Mommy is thrilled to have a break from the "schedule". I am so looking forward to a great summer with my cute little girlies.

Poor Kaiya was so sick the last day of school, so she missed out on the fun. Being the child that she is, she was very concerned about me seeing her report card and asked me to go get it for her. What kid is worried that their parents WON'T see their report card?

To top things off, two nights ago Kaiya fell down while climbing off the trampoline (she obviously has a healthy dose of my natural grace) and broke her arm. Luckily it's just a hairline fracture - but she has been feeling very dramatic about it. It's been a rough beginning of summer for Kaiya!

Here are pictures of Emmie's end-of-the-year program. She's such a sweetheart! She's grown up so much this year, and I couldn't ask for a more kind and helpful child. Who would have thought I'd be saying that about Emmie after the insane toddler years I endured with her? I love love love this girl!